Page 70 of Viper’s Reign

My blood chills as I consider it. He really might be behind this—the warehouse explosion, the kidnappings. That slimy bastard is the type to hold a grudge this long.

“So, you don’t know who he is. But someone has to know his identity. Who?”

Leonid blanches and shakes his head quickly. “I-I don’t know.” But the fear in his eyes says otherwise. He does know. He’s just terrified of saying it. Maybe I should give him something worth being terrified about.

“Then you’re of no use to me,” I say coolly, nodding at Noah again.

“Wait! Wait—I’ll tell you what I know. I’ll tell you.” He throws his hands up. “Please, I have a girlfriend. She needs me.”

I doubt it, but I signal Noah to hold. “Get on with it.”

“Levi Williams,” he blurts out. “He might know. He’s the one always organizing the meetings with the boss. They come in together and leave together. If anyone knows his identity, it’s Levi. That’s everything I have, I swear to God, that’s everything.”

I hold his gaze for a beat, then nod. “Thank you, Leonid.”

He gives me a shaky smile, hope blooming in his eyes—stupid, misplaced hope that he might survive this. He’s a fool if he thinks I’d let him walk out of here to go warn Levi about us.

I glance at Noah. He doesn’t hesitate.

The shot is quick. Clean.

For a second, Leonid remains on his knees, surprise crossing his face. Then he pitches forward and hits the floor, blood pooling beneath his head.

“Do we have anything on this Levi Williams?” I ask as we head out, closing the door behind us and returning the bookshelf to its original spot.

“He’s not on our radar yet, but I’ll look him up right away,” Noah answers, pausing when he sets eyes on the teenage worker—Kaitlyn.

Fuck. I forgot about her.

His gaze shifts to me. A slight shake of my head is enough to let him know she’s not a threat to us, and that we don’t hurt kids.

I make my way toward her, and she lights up with a bright, oblivious smile. “Are you not arresting him, Detective?”

“You should go home, Kaitlyn. We’re waiting for backup, and if you’re still here when they arrive, you could be held as an accessory.”

Her lips part, her eyes rounding again. “But—how—how did you know my name?”

That’s what she’s concerned about? I raise a brow. “We’re detectives, remember?”

She nods rapidly. “Right, right, sorry. When can I come back to work? I don’t usually close until eight, and it’s only past noon.”

“Maybe tomorrow,” I say gently, and she grins.

“Huh, I guess I could do with a day off.” She gives me a little finger wave and totters off.

“Dummy,” Noah mutters as he watches her go.

She couldn’t be a day older than sixteen. “She’s a kid.” I wait until she’s through the door, then turn to Denis. “You and the others take care of the body.”

He nods.

Outside, I signal the men to join Denis before getting back into my car.

“Home or Korona?” Noah asks as he starts the engine.

Korona is Vanya’s hotel, where he lives. Usually, I’d want to loop him in, so his investigator, Vasily, can start digging into Levi Williams. But something in me says to hold on to this one a little tighter. For now.

“Home.” As I answer, an image of Grace—on her back, dress hiked up to her waist—cuts through my thoughts, and my fucking cock reacts, hardening instantly.